The memorial will reflect India's diversity and various cultures and will pay homage to Kalam's life, displaying replicas of rockets and missiles that the late ace scientist worked on.

Every stone placed in the memorial represents Kalam's dream of United India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the APJ Abdul Kalam memorial in the former president's grave site in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu today.

The memorial will reflect India's diversity and various cultures and will pay homage to Kalam's life, displaying replicas of rockets and missiles that the late ace scientist worked on.

It is the second death anniversary of the missile man of India today.

"It is a proud moment for all of us. APJ's teaching will now live through this monument, and will give the belief in oneself to all those people who come here," said Sheik Saleem, grand nephew of APJ Abdul Kalam, about the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam memorial which is constructed in the site where the mortal remains of the former President was laid to rest two years back.

Every stone placed in the memorial represents Kalam's dream of United India. "We worked closely with Kalam ji on various instances earlier. He always admired the different aspects in our culture. We have tried to integrate all of it in this monument," said Pawan Gupta, CEO, Parnika constructions and Real estate, who are in charge of the construction work.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with which Kalam was associated for several years, had taken up the initiative of constructing the memorial as a tribute to India's missile man. They have invested around Rs 120 crore for the construction of the memorial in a record 9-month period.

The entrance of the memorial depicts the India Gate and has a Chettinad door integrated into the structure, while the main dome of the building is a replica of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"We were informed only 25 days back that we have to decorate the area with plants. As we have worked with Kalam ji, we know his tastes. Though we have worked in the Mughal Gardens before, this is a challenging experience as the climate in Delhi and in Rameshwaram are different. We have got plants from Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana and we have handpicked flowers keeping in mind Kalam ji's taste," said Sanjay Sinha, RIC private limited, the organisation that looked after the the work of the garden created around the memorial.

The structure is built in a 2.11 acre land and the bronze life size statue of Abdul Kalam, which was inaugurated in 2016, has been shifted and installed behind the memorial. Inside the memorial there are four halls which depict the life and time of Kalam.

"The second phase of the memorial will consist of the knowledge centre- a library, planetarium and auditorium. Its completion will take at least a year," said Saleem.

"Our honourable Prime Minister is paying tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam and we are glad that we are able to honour one of the greatest leaders of the country. We are happy with the way this building has been set up," said Tamil Nadu State President Tamilisai Soundarajan.

"Kalam ji will like it, we know that," said Pawan looking at this finished work. The permanent memory of the great leader will now welcome the visitors to the temple town of Rameshwaram. The pilgrimage site where people come to wash away their sins will now have a new place from where they could gain knowledge.